INSIGHTS – 2023 Q2
The first half of 2023 have flown past and it‘s been a busy time for our Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration volunteers and our small, part-time staff. There‘s been in-person visits to our partners in Nepal, our first in-person meeting of our Canadian volunteers in three years, and new collaborations with partners in Canada and in South Asia.
Our partner-led programs in South and Southeast Asia continue to have incredible impact on many lives impacted by cancer and other life-limiting illness. All of this is possible thanks to you, our donors, and we are incredibly thankful for your belief in us.
In the photo above, palliative care nurse Rhadika (right) provides care as TWCC volunteer Dr. Robin Love (left) listens as Dr. Bikash Anand describes the care for the patient and her husband at their home in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Dr. Love has been partnering with the palliative care team at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital for more than 15 years.
Photo: Two Worlds Cancer
Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration strategic planning retreat
Photo: Two Worlds Cancer
After three-years, 21 of our volunteers and four part-time staff met for a hybrid, in-person and virtual retreat. Eighteen of us met in-person in Vancouver June 2-3.
We reflected on our impact, ambitions and the evolution of Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration. It was also a chance to say some goodbyes and thank you.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sandra Broughton who has been our executive director for the past five years as she steps away from that role. Although Sandi‘s position was part-time, she went ’above and beyond‘ volunteering many additional hours. Happily, we are not losing her as she is staying on as a volunteer, coordinating our Oral Cancer Screening Initiatives.
We would also like to thank Fanny Romeyn who has served as our accountant (part time) and helped keep us focused these past five years. Fanny is retiring and we wish her the very best and are incredibly grateful for her dedication and leadership.
And we welcomed Dr. Ruzena (Rose) Tkacova officially starting as our new executive director (part time) July 1. Rose is an MD and PhD and is a senior research advisor and senior lead researcher at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in BC. We look forward to working with her and appreciate the time she took to join us at the retreat before officially starting her position.
Nepal palliative care programs
Photos: Two Worlds Cancer
In late April and early May, TWCC volunteers, Drs. Robin Love, Jacqueline Hui and Christian Mackin, nurse educator Leslie Sundby, and nurse Robyn Dunstan visited Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (BCH), Kanti Children’s Hospital, Hospice Nepal and BP Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences in Dharan, Eastern Province.
Developing rural palliative care combined with rural health outreach has been a priority. A sustainable project in the Makwanpur District evolved from a three-year pilot program initially funded by a donor in British Columbia. Today, with TWCC support, that model is being adopted in Nepal’s Eastern Province
Sunflower Children's Network flourishing
The Sunflower Children‘s Network is collaborating with McGill University (Canada) to evaluate the economic impact of children‘s palliative care in Bangladesh. Our Network is helping connect organizations through shared interests – the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University team in Dhaka, Bangladesh is partnering with the Umduduzi Program in Durban, South Africa to share mutual knowledge and experiences with both their children‘s palliative home care programs. Through our Network, the University of Ottawa (Canada) is partnering with National Children‘s Hospital (Philippines) for a Medical Education short course. And our network‘s latest collaboration is with St. Jude Children‘s Research Hospital – a leading international pediatric clinical, teaching and research hospital in the United States.
A new logo for our partners in Hyderabad
The Hyderabad Centre for Palliative Care (HCPC) grew from a combined vision for a centre for excellence in palliative care provision and training – the vision of Dr. Gayatri Palat and her colleagues at the Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society in Hyderabad, and Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration.
In collaboration with members of the HCPC trust, Vancouver-based graphic designer Mike Savage (21stops.com) worked with them to envision a brand including the logo above. Mike kindly donated his time to this project as he has to TWCC for more than 10 years
Sri Lanka's palliative care struggles under the socio-economic crisis
Palliative care initiatives in Sri Lanka are facing extreme challenges with the continued socio-economic crisis impacting the country. At present, palliative care activities are constrained by the lack of funding and available medical supplies. Palliative care providers in the Northern and Eastern provinces are struggling to maintain care levels until conditions improve.
TWCC has kept our Emergency Appeal open via our website and on GlobalGiving. We provide the appeal funds to our partners on a quarterly basis.
Care at Home – Grassroots to sustainable funding
Part of TWCC‘s mandate is to ensure that grassroots programs we help fund can become sustainable. One of the most successful of these initiatives has been the Home Care Program in Hyderabad.
Today there are 11 vans, including two dedicated to children, providing palliative care to patients and support for families in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, and end-of-life care when needed. Each van team has a driver, nurse, and social worker and a palliative care specialist joins the teams weekly. TWCC funded two vans initially before local NGOs took over the funding and increased the care capacity more than five times to its present level.
Our volunteers are the heart of our organization
It‘s fitting that the next Q&A on our website is an interview with our founder and president Dr. Simon Sutcliffe. Since 2010, Dr. Sutcliffe has quietly worked 'behind the scenes' to build our collaborations, our core group of volunteers and relationships with partner organizations. To read the interview please scroll down our News section.
Photo: Chuck Russell/ Two Worlds Cancer
Keep an eye on our social media
To learn more about our programs and the regions where we partner visit our social media channels – We are on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. And watch the News section of our website as we introduce more of our volunteers with our ongoing Q&As.
This is a pivotal year for Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration, we need your generous support in 2023 more than ever. Please consider a donation today or become a Compassionate Partner by joining our monthly donors.
Enjoy the summer months and please keep an eye on your email for the next editions of INSIGHTS at the end of September.
On behalf of Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration, thank you for your continued and generous support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Puneet Bains
Vice-President, Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration